Even the usually poker-faced Graham Murray couldn't hide his disappointment.

He tried to put on a brave face as North Queensland CEO Peter Parr sat next to him and announced the NRL club would not be renewing his contract at the end of 2008 - a month before the season kicked off.

But Murray's grim expression said it all.

It was a portent for the disastrous season to come.

The Cowboys hierarchy promised that the surprise decision wouldn't affect the team.

Murray claimed it would be business as usual.

He was gone by May.

And the early season title favourites only missed out on the wooden spoon on percentages.

The worst injury toll in the club's history didn't help.

Fast forward and the mood at the Cowboys could not be more different for 2009.

A buzzing North Queensland are hailing the return of the "King" - Murray's former Cowboys assistant Neil Henry.

And why not?

As Mal Meninga's right hand man, Henry has established himself as the one of the game's great tacticians by helping Queensland to three straight Origin series wins and counting.

And his reputation was only enhanced when his Canberra Raiders ditched their minnows tag and made the 2008 NRL finals with an open, entertaining brand of football.

Murray may have taken the Cowboys to their first finals campaign and all the way to the 2005 season decider but a title eluded him, as it did throughout his NRL career.

Unlike Murray, Henry has triumphed at the highest level - albeit as a Queensland Origin assistant.

And all the ingredients are in place at North Queensland for that trend to continue in the NRL for Henry.

The world's best halfback - Johnathan Thurston - is fit and fresh.

And the Cowboys appear to have recruited well, bolstering their backline with the likes of Willie Tonga and Grant Rovelli.

But don't tell North Queensland that last minute pick-up, ex-Souths back Shannon Hegarty, was rated 2009's worst buy by Rugby League Week magazine.

To boot they have bulked up their already impressive pack with former Queensland Origin prop Antonio Kaufusi and ex-South Sydney giant Manase Manuokafoa.

Throw into the mix the return of notorious fitness guru Billy Johnstone, and the Cowboys seem to have no excuses if they don't succeed in 2009.

And Henry knows it.

None of this "rebuilding phase" business as Henry begins his five year deal, the new coach wants instant success.

"We'd be disappointed if we couldn't make the top eight," the usually circumspect Henry admitted.

Tonga has recovered from a shoulder injury that restricted his 2008 season to just seven games for the Bulldogs and bounced back from an Achilles strain picked up at Cowboys training.

"(Tonga) is a quality attacking player and hopefully he can get back to form. We know how he can play and he's been training well," Henry said.

But arguably the biggest news has been created by their smallest player - Matt Bowen.

The livewire fullback appears to have completed a miraculous recovery from radical knee surgery.

He was initially expected to miss the first four to six weeks of the 2009 season after undergoing surgery to implant artificial cartilage in his knee last July.

He only began running for the first time in eight months in January.

But Bowen has astounded medical staff by returning to top condition so quickly that he is in line for the March 13 opener against the Broncos.

"We will keep monitoring him. I think he's an enormous boost for us because he's an integral part of what we do," Henry said.

Thurston became so worn down carrying the Cowboys that he blew both of his shoulders.

Back to peak fitness after minor groin surgery - his fourth operation in 12 months - Thurston is looking forward to finding a compatible halves partner with newcomer Rovelli and Travis Burns putting up their hands.

Burns was limited to 14 games in 2008 due to injury, suspension and lack of form, forcing the Cowboys to experiment with Daniel Abraham, Sione Faumuina and Justin Smith in the halves.

"Having those two there creates competition for spots, in previous years we haven't really had that," Thurston said.

"Hopefully we can play well together and help push towards the finals.

"And my body is very good, the mind is fresh.

"I had a good break, I have been training well now so I am looking forward to getting out on the paddock."

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